The West Bengal Government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by retired Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati, to investigate the stampede that occurred near the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata on October 17, 2026, stating that the team was formed in consultation with the Calcutta High Court.

An order issued by the Office of the Chief Secretary on October 21 stated that the SIT would conduct a comprehensive, impartial and thorough inquiry into the incident, identify its causes and contributing factors, fix responsibility wherever warranted, and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.

Apart from Justice (Retd.) Roy Saraswati as chairperson, the SIT comprises the Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management and Civil Defence Department, the Director General and Inspector General of Police, Special Task Force, West Bengal, a representative of the Director General of Police not below the rank of Additional Director General, a representative of the Home and Hill Affairs Department not below the rank of Joint Secretary, and a representative of the National Disaster Response Force in Kolkata.

The team has been asked to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the stampede, including the time, place and circumstances of its occurrence. It will examine whether overcrowding, adverse weather conditions, gate management, rumours, electrical failure, inadequate entry and exit arrangements, structural deficiencies or failures in crowd-control measures contributed to the incident.

The SIT will also investigate when and where the initial crowd surge occurred, how it developed into a stampede, the number of people present at the venue, crowd movement and entry and exit flows, and whether the gathering exceeded the premises' reasonably assessed safe capacity.

The inquiry will further examine weather conditions, rainfall and thunderstorm bulletins, public announcements, possible panic triggers, and the adequacy of passages, barricades, stairways, gates, emergency exits and other access arrangements at the pandal.

The team will scrutinise the preparedness and response of the organisers, private security personnel, volunteers, police, ambulance services, hospitals, fire services and civic authorities. It will also examine CCTV footage, mobile video recordings, forensic findings, call records, police station and control-room logs, medical records and other physical evidence.

The order directs the SIT to examine whether permissions were granted in accordance with applicable rules and whether adequate crowd-management plans, disaster-management plans, evacuation arrangements and police bandobast plans were prepared and implemented in compliance with applicable laws, judicial directions and relevant guidelines, including those issued by the National Disaster Management Authority.

The SIT will ascertain whether any lapse, negligence, dereliction of duty or failure of coordination is attributable to the organisers, police authorities, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Public Works Department, Fire and Emergency Services, CESC Limited or any other agency or individual, and recommend appropriate action in accordance with law wherever warranted.

It will also recommend measures to regulate large Durga Puja gatherings in congested areas, particularly the narrow lanes of North Kolkata. These may include scientifically assessed footfall limits, adequate entry and exit routes, CCTV surveillance, public-address systems, emergency evacuation plans and effective inter-agency coordination.

The order further requires the SIT to examine the assistance, compensation and rehabilitation extended, or required to be extended, to the victims and their families, including the adequacy of any ex-gratia assistance announced.

All concerned departments, authorities, agencies and individuals have been directed to extend full cooperation to the SIT and provide the records, information and assistance required for the inquiry.

The SIT may seek the State Government's assistance in inducting any additional officer required for the investigation. It has been directed to submit its report, findings and recommendations to the State Government within three months from the date of the order.

The order takes immediate effect.